PETA Blasts Iran’s 1960s-Era Space Program

Written by PETA | January 29, 2013

Like many of you, we were appalled by photos that have surfaced showing a visibly terrified monkey crudely strapped into a restraint device in which he was reportedly launched into space by the Iranian Space Agency (ISA). Back in 2011, our friends at PETA U.K. urged agency head Dr. Hamid Fazeli to ground the misguided mission, pointing out that nonhuman primates are no longer sent into space by the American or European space agencies.

It appears that Iran is repeating the wasteful and cruel mistakes that marked the darkest days of the space race. Monkeys are smart and sensitive animals who not only are traumatized by the violence and noise of a launch and landing but also suffer when caged in a laboratory before and after a flight—if they survive.

NASA ended the use of primates in space radiation experiments in the early 1990s, following protests by PETA. In 2010, NASA’s plans to restart the program were canceled after PETA and others voiced strong ethical and scientific objections to the ill-advised plan.

Similarly, the European Space Agency (ESA) has a very active space exploration program and has publicly stated that it “declines any interest in monkey research and does not consider any need or use for such results.” The ESA instead employs modern technology such as state-of-the-art simulators to assess health risks for astronauts.

Whether it happens in Iran or Ireland, in an underground laboratory or in outer space, cruelly exploiting animals for specious science is indefensible. We’ve reached out to the ISA once again to ask it to stop shooting monkeys into space. Learn how you can help stop experimentation on all animals.

Disgusting, disgraceful and unnecessary – I am ashamed to be part of the human race – the poor, helpless monkey is wondering what the hell he has done to deserve this, how about using extreme criminals like rapists and murderers and not using animals!

Not only is it downright cruel to shoot such a cute and innocent creature into space, it is also really, really bad PR for Iran. (The world is watching!) It just baffles me how human beings are capable of hurting others.

I’m horrified to read that you are going to send an speechless animal to space. I know that Americans have done this as well, but that doesn’t mean it is a noble and ethic thing to do. Please, look into his eyes. Those really break my heart. Let him go and send a volunteering human instead. Thank you so much for reading this. regards, Yvonne

This is the cruelest thing i ever see! Monkeys are smart and sensitive animals who not only are traumatized by the violence and noise of a launch and landing but also suffer when caged in a laboratory before and after a flight—if they survive.Similarly, the European Space Agency (ESA) has a very active space exploration program and has publicly stated that it “declines any interest in monkey research and does not consider any need or use for such results.” The ESA instead employs modern technology such as state-of-the-art simulators to assess health risks for astronauts. So, what is wrong with you?

Please stop shooting monkeys into space. Whether it happens in Iran or Ireland, in an underground laboratory or in outer space, cruelly exploiting animals for specious science is indefensible. Thank you.

Sir, i just wanted to say that animals do have rights. So please let them free and this is so inhuman to hurt themand make them feel so bad. Why do innocent animals have to pay for such experiments. Humans those are willing to go into space, should be sent. Please consider this plea. Thanks.

I’m sure there ate volunteering astronauts who would love the ourtunity. Also, why don’t we take of care and heal the world we live in instead of finding a way to escape it once we have completely destroyed it. Put you knowledge, research, money in to that instead of poluting the cosmos.

Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights? Read more.